The Magician

In The News

UNO unveiled on Friday the statue depicting legendary quarterback Marlin Briscoe, who went on to become the first black quarterback to start a game in the NFL. The statue, which will be placed outside Baxter Arena, shows Briscoe winding up to pass, something he did often at Omaha U. Briscoe set 22 school records, including the career passing mark with 5,114 yards.

Football history remembers Marlin Briscoe for Oct. 6, 1968, the day he became the first black quarterback to start an NFL game. Floyd Little remembers a different Sunday, seven weeks later. The Denver Broncos vs. the Buffalo Bills. The day “Marlin the Magician” bailed him out. Here’s the scene, according to Little, the former Denver running back: The Broncos lead 31-29. Two minutes left. Little takes a handoff, runs outside, trips over a piece of sod and fumbles. Disaster.

I have a new favorite statue. They’ll unveil it on Friday, outside Baxter Arena. Tonight, the subject will be honored at a dinner in the same arena. Former Denver Bronco Floyd Little will speak, Hall of Fame coach Don Shula will be among the video tributes and local legends such as Bob Gibson, Johnny Rodgers and Ron Boone will be there. I haven’t even seen the Marlin Briscoe statue yet, but I love it because of what it represents. Briscoe was a pioneer, the first African-American quarterback in professional football with the Denver Broncos of the American Football League in 1968.

West Omaha Films and Falconer Pictures have signed Lyriq Bent to portray NFL player Marlin Briscoe in “The Magician, the Marlin Briscoe Story,” Variety has learned exclusively.

Doug Falconer (“Forsaken”) is producing for West Omaha Films along with Terry Hanna, Dave Clark and John Beasley. The screenplay was written by Gregory Allen Howard, whose credits include “Remember the Titans” and “Ali.”

Marlin Briscoe made history with the Denver Broncos. You might think that means he’ll be rooting for them in Sunday’s Super Bowl. If so, you’d be wrong.

Briscoe was the first African-American quarterback in the modern era to start in the NFL or AFL. He feels a brotherhood with Cam Newton, the Carolina Panthers quarterback whom Briscoe met when Newton was 15. And Briscoe says he will be rooting hard for Newton’s Panthers in Super Bowl 50.

When Cam Newton attended a football camp about 10 years ago, the teenager from Atlanta met his future mentor, Warren Moon. With Moon at the camp was former NFL player Marlin Briscoe, nicknamed “The Magician,” but not for the circus catches he made with the Bills and Dolphins.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Jan. 8, 2016) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today the 2016 College Football Hall of Fame Class, which includes the names of 14 First Team All-America players and two standout coaches. The inductees were selected from the national ballot of 76 All-America players and five elite coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and the 92 players and 27 coaches from the divisional ranks.

Marlin Briscoe made history with the Denver Broncos. You might think that means he’ll be rooting for them in Sunday’s Super Bowl. If so, you’d be wrong.

Briscoe was the first African-American quarterback in the modern era to start in the NFL or AFL. He feels a brotherhood with Cam Newton, the Carolina Panthers quarterback whom Briscoe met when Newton was 15. And Briscoe says he will be rooting hard for Newton’s Panthers in Super Bowl 50.